Looking for field / production monitor recommendations

M

MartinF

Active member
Hi all,

I want to get a decent field monitor in the 13" to 17" range. Must have sdi and hdmi, LUTs and de-loging, scopes, must run of v-locks and it would be great if I could calibrate it myself with a simple x-rite probe, as you can with SmallHD and also the Atomos Sumo (too big) .
What is everybody using these days? I have been looking online at the FSI DM170, the SmallHD 1303 and 1703, the 15 inch OSee LCM 156-E and the Swit FM170, which seems to be the old OSee 17inch just rebranded. The monitor does not have to be super color accurate or be hdr capable, it is for the director, the AC and the client and not for grading. So the FSI as well as the smallHds feel like overkill to me.

Any hints and opinions welcome!

martin
 
Just a comment.

I own a small 7in atomos and recently had the Sumo on a shoot. The sumo felt 'small' compared to the monitors you see on a proper drama set.

Is it that Sumo much bigger than 17 inches?


(NB I did not check out the recording or playback on the Sumo as it was away in a client area)


Overall I cannot stress the value that recording on the monitor can bring in terms of the client experience.

While the 'edit recording' is always done internally on my FS7 we still record on the Atomos.

The playback abilities of the atomos.. ability to scrub through shots with ipad ease.. are so director friendly they love it!.. and as an operator, im very happy not to be digging in the pissPor sony menu to do a playback especially another one for the art director or whoever decides maybe they should look.

Also rough clips can be chucked into resolve and wetransfered to a remote client for sign off while the camera is doing the next shot.

Before rejecting the atomos I would consider the joy of record and playback, with without LUTs, WFM etc.
 
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I am totally aware of the benefits of recording, I really like the sumo for that, but it is huge and heavy for the kind of work I do. At least I think it is. I better have a look at it though...
 
I have a Sumo and an Osee 17" monitor. The Osee is great for the picture by picture on multicamera shoots and it seems color accurate with adjustments. It is not bright enough, though. The Sumo is bright. That is the best that can be said for it, along with the brilliant ProRes Raw when needed. Or just recording proxies for playback. It is definitely bigger and heavier than the Osee and it sucks down batteries. Both are a pretty good deal for what you get, but I would probably wait for one of those inventory clearance sales that SmallHD has on B&H every once in awhile where they discount the monitors by 2/3rds.
 
My primary 17" monitor is a Sony OLED. Regarding the smallHD's(and I absolutely LOVE my DP7Pro OLED's and wouldn't trade them for anything), their "large" field monitors are crap and that's why B&H has them on-sale practically giving them away, at times. Their off-axis viewing(even slightly) is horrible and their menu system is maddening and completely illogical to me(the "old" menu and touch-screen on my DP7Pro's is great). B&H had their 32" on-sale a month or so ago for maybe $1400-$1500 and I almost jumped on it, until I remembered HOW BAD the viewing angle is.

I've seen the Sumo in person and it's smaller and lighter than you think. I didn't have a chance to get really in-depth with it, but it seemed ok.
 
Thanks everybody so far, Sumo seems to be all the rage. While I am intrigued, also by the reasonable price, I would still prefer something smaller and lighter for easy travelling. Anyone uses something from TVLogic or Bon or whatever else is out there?
 
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